The Spur of the Moment Land Deal that Created an Empire

[Liberator]

and got closer to conquering the world than anyone else in modern history.

Well, do not forget about this crazy austrian in the 30s and 40s
anyway, none of both was really close to conquering the world

[Phog_of_War]

Well, do not forget about this crazy austrian in the 30s and 40s
anyway, none of both was really close to conquering the world

The Sandwich that Started a World War


You probably know from history class that World War I started with the assassination of an Austrian Archduke named Franz Ferdinand, kicking off a domino effect of events that left millions dead. You may not know, however, that what knocked over that first domino was a sandwich.

There was this guy named Gavrilo Princip. He was a Bosnian student and guerrilla, part of a group called the Black Hand. Sounds like the evil organization of mages that secretly controls the world, right? Unfortunately, it was something a lot less awesome: a Slavic independence group.

And for some weird reason, they really hated Franz Ferdinand.


To be fair, he had that kind of face.

The World-shattering Coincidence
Let's make sure to clear this up: Gavrilo Princip very much wanted to assassinate Uncle Franz. It was how it happened that was so random.

In mid-1914, Ferdinand, his wife and the obligatory group of less important political figures and other random hangers-on that always accompanies a soon-to-be-assassinated fool, were cruising through the streets of Sarajevo in a (stupidly) open-top car.

The Black Hand had crafted an intricate assassination plot, which basically consisted of, "just kill this dumbass somehow." Unfortunately, as is always true with intricate assassination plots, something went wrong.



When Franz's motorcade passed by the assassins, one of the group, a guy named Nedeljko Cabrinovic, lobbed a grenade at the motorcade. The problem was he was using a crappy 1914 grenade, so it took 10 seconds to detonate, and by then Uncle Franz was out of range. The unlucky fools in the car behind them bit it instead, and the assassins dispersed in the chaos.

Cabrinovic took a cyanide pill that failed to kill him and jumped into a three foot river to "drown" himself. He was later captured. Franz and his party, it seemed, were safe.

But Franz was not yet done putting his life in insane danger. Against the advice of pretty much everyone, he insisted on going to the hospital to visit the people who were injured by the grenade. The driver, unfortunately, had no idea where the hell he was going. They ended up crisscrossing hilariously through the streets of Sarajevo, until they just randomly happened to pass a cafe where, you guessed it, Gavrilo Princip was enjoying a post-failed-assassination sandwich.

After the obligatory pause of dumbfounded luck, Princip grabbed his pistol and turned the tide of history.

And How Did it Change The World?
First, WWI broke out ...... Then there was the post-war economic failure...... Which was part of the reason Germany actually elected Adolph Hitler(that crazy Austrian?)......Who caused WW 2...... Which ended with nukes...... which resulted in the Cold War...... Which led to Korea/Vietnam...... And finally gave us Hippies:



That's right. Most of the horror and death of the 20th Century may not have happened had Gavrilo Princip not gotten the munchies for a sandwich.

[johnhughthom]

I was under the impression WWI started because Archie Duke shot an ostrich.

[Phog_of_War]

I will have to go back to some textbooks from college and check on that one.


EDIT: Umm..no mention of an ostrich. But wars have been started for more redicilous reasons. Just ask the British.

See: The War of the Golden Stool (really?)
The Flagstaff War (Have a better reason to fight)
The Pig War (again, really?)
The War of Jenkins's Ear (Talk about holding a grudge)

[Forward Observer]

It's aways funny to me when Hollywood portrays Napoleon in historical parodies or comedic movies speaking English with a French accent. Of course he was bilingual and spoke both French and Italian, but most likely since his frist language was probably the latter, that would have probably been his accent.

I read that Napoleon also really did learn English, although I don't know how conversant he was.

[SpiritFox]

I want a sammich

[Graphic]

It's aways funny to me when Hollywood portrays Napoleon in historical parodies or comedic movies speaking English with a French accent. Of course he was bilingual and spoke both French and Italian, but most likely since his frist language was probably the latter, that would have probably been his accent.

I read that Napoleon also really did learn English, although I don't know how conversant he was.

I'm probably in the minority on this, but whenever Napoleon (or any character speaking a non-English language) is in a movie with English dialogue, they should have no accent whatsoever. Either that or actually speak French (or whatever language the character uses). I never understood the mocking of movies like Valkyrie for not using German accents (though from what I hear that movie deserves to be mocked for other reasons, like making the conspirators out to be noble peaceniks). A German guy put it perfectly, he basically said (I'm paraphrasing): "I've never seen a German movie set in America where the actors use fake American accents in German. If it's in English, let it be English." It's pretty ridiculous when you think about it, honestly. I don't need to hear the actors pronounce W's like V's to remind me that they're supposed to be Germans. It's in English, speak English normally then. Best example I can think of right now is The Pianist.



[/unrelated rant]

[Khorak]

I(though from what I hear that movie deserves to be mocked for other reasons, like making the conspirators out to be noble peaceniks)

Unfairly so. As far as historical revisionism goes it's not exactly an insulting change like "screw history, Americans save the day", and beyond that it is exceptionally well acted, well written, and somehow tense despite already knowing how it all turns out.

I hate Tom Cruise and I still couldn't bring myself to dislike the film.

[Negative]

A German guy put it perfectly, he basically said (I'm paraphrasing): "I've never seen a German movie set in America where the actors use fake American accents in German.
[/unrelated rant]

Wait! Americans don't have accents. It's everyone else who has an accent.

[HKDDJulker]

I'm probably in the minority on this, but whenever Napoleon (or any character speaking a non-English language) is in a movie with English dialogue, they should have no accent whatsoever. Either that or actually speak French (or whatever language the character uses). I never understood the mocking of movies like Valkyrie for not using German accents (though from what I hear that movie deserves to be mocked for other reasons, like making the conspirators out to be noble peaceniks). A German guy put it perfectly, he basically said (I'm paraphrasing): "I've never seen a German movie set in America where the actors use fake American accents in German. If it's in English, let it be English." It's pretty ridiculous when you think about it, honestly. I don't need to hear the actors pronounce W's like V's to remind me that they're supposed to be Germans. It's in English, speak English normally then. Best example I can think of right now is The Pianist.



[/unrelated rant]

You wanna talk about bad accents in movies, how about Enemy at the Gates. The Russian characters really truly do have English Accents. Its one of the most ridiculous things i've seen in recent history.

[Beskar]

I was under the impression WWI started because Archie Duke shot an ostrich.

Black Adder Goes Forth.

[Liberator]

First, WWI broke out ...... Then there was the post-war economic failure...... Which was part of the reason Germany actually elected Adolph Hitler(that crazy Austrian?)......Who caused WW 2...... Which ended with nukes...... which resulted in the Cold War...... Which led to Korea/Vietnam...... And finally gave us Hippies:

I think it's a widespread misunderstanding - Hitler was never elected (In a way, say, Americans think of being elected) at all.
His party, the NSDAP, had notable success in elections in the early 30s, but it still failed to gain absolute majority.
Hitler finally came to power as he was appointed as Chancellor by President Hindenburg in early 1933.
Even after taking over, the NSDAP failed to win an absolute majority in March 1933, necessitating maintaining a coalition with the DNVP. This was the last election in Nazi Germany (and you might guess, it wasn't a fair and free one)